Evaluation of Challenges in the Procurement Process at a Tertiary Care Hospital in Central India: A Cross Sectional Questionnaire Based Study
Sandip Meghnad Hulke, Girish Chandra Bhatt, Sunil ChouhanAbstract
Background:
Procurement is an important process at any institute. Patient care, teaching quality, and research quality would certainly improve with timely procurement. The objective of the study was to analyze the problems faced by persons handling all administrative work at various stages of procurement, as well as by beneficiaries/departments at these stages.
Subjects and Methods:
It was a questionnaire-based cross-sectional study done at AIIMS, Bhopal. A validated questionnaire containing both open-ended and closed-ended questions was sent to personnel involved in administrative procurement work (
Statistical Analysis Used:
Statistical analysis was performed using statistical software (Google Sheets). Count and percentage summarize categorical or nominal variables. The difference in the frequency of factors contributing to time across various stages of the procurement process was tested using the chi-square test.
Results:
A significant difference was observed between Faculty and administrative personnel in their responses regarding timing the initial stages of procurement, technical evaluation, and post-delivery procedures. Administrative personnel reported that Faculty devote substantial time to bid finalization, technical evaluation, and postdelivery processes, and that additional issues include clerical errors, poor coordination, and delays in responding to pre-bid queries. Faculty highlighted excessive documentation and limited time for technical evaluation. Both groups identified inadequate training and significant delays in the payment process.
Conclusions:
Smooth procurement requires coordination among the various personnel involved in the process. Proper training, formulating standard and fixed policies, checklists, and ensuring these checklists would make certain that procurement is done on time.